The book (really a letter) of Jude is one of the most neglected books in scripture. I don’t think I’ve ever heard a pastor teach on this book. I think there is a great temptation, because of its brevity, for people to gloss over the words and move onto something meatier. But even in this small biblical letter, we can find greater understanding of who God is, how he deals with people, and what he had to say on a particular subject. In the case of this book, we approach the subject of false teaching in t \he church.
1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James,
To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:
2 Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.
We open with Jude’s introduction, which sounds fairly standard, but gives us a wealth of information as to who Jude is, what his motivations are, and even more so who he aims this letter at. First, he identifies himself as Jude, a servant of Christ. So above any other identifying factor, Jude is a servant (bondservant) of Jesus Christ. Only after that do we understand that he is the brother of James, the patriarch of the Christian church, who happens to be the half-brother of Christ. His humility is on display here, because he uses this to identify himself as the brother of Christ (Matt 13:55) without calling out this directly.
Secondly, we see who the letter is addressed to:
1. To those who have been called: This means the letter is addressed to Christians (John 15:16, Romans 8:28). This is an interesting statement, because we don’t often think of ourselves as called by God. Instead we can point to a moment in our life when we are “saved,” when we came to Christ. But the Bible tells us that God initially calls us to service.
2. Who are loved by God the Father: This tells us further about the distinction of the Christian. Christians are set apart by God in three ways: By the Word of God, by the work of the Holy Spirit, and also by the fellowship of believers. If we break that down we can see that a Christian is set apart by what he believes, by allowing the work of the Holy Spirit in his life, and by the company he keeps.
3. Kept for Christ: This speaks to the protection of Christ. It doesn’t simply mean physical protection, but mainly deep spiritual protection that comes from indulging in the word of God and living it out in our lives. (1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Thessalonians 3:3)
3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. 4 For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
In verse 3, we see that Jude was originally going to write Christians about salvation but saw a greater concern arise: something was going on in the church body, in his time, that concerned him. He saw that false teaching arose somewhere in the church and felt compelled to write about that instead, and more to the point, to discuss a vibrant “contention” of the faith.
The word contention has an interesting connotation. My understanding is that the Hebrew word is a wrestling term, meaning “to agonize.” If we envision a wrestling match, the aim of the wrestlers is to pin their opponent. But it isn’t easy. There is a constant fight against one another, fight that takes all of their strength.
When we talk about agonizing (contending) in the faith, Jude is telling us that the faith (the gospel) we stake our lives on has meaning. It is entrusted to us. The big question is, if we don’t struggle over it, agonize and fight for it, who will? This contention is both common and individual. The common part is about our shared faith, but the individual component is about our diligent work we must constantly do to preserve what has been given to us. This is remnant work, for sure. Remember, the only reason we have scripture today is because of the dutiful remnant who preserved it over time.
The reason we fight for it is important as well. This speaks to the Christian life, the example we set for others. Our Christian foundation of truth is the most important part of the equation. If we aren’t willing to fight for the truth, then are we really following? We may view that as extreme, thinking about martyrdom. But it isn’t always the extreme. Sometimes it’s just speaking the truth in small situations. Bringing light to someone who has none. Speaking up when no one else will.
But our fight for the truth of the Gospel has a huge impact on the world going forward. Everyone eventually arrives at a time in their life that they begin to understand the erosion of the world around them. Not just the tenuous nature of society, but the spiritual decay that happens daily. In this decay comes a natural ambivalence. It is a feeling that we can all take care of our own lives, and as long as we are happy with our own truths, that will somehow bring peace. A hundred million truths in this world has an opposite effect on truth, though. We end up compromising ourselves into a hole of untruth, and the truth is even cloudier than ever imagined.
This is the problem with moral relativity. Moral relativity is the problem of having multiple truths. If everyone has their own truth that is played out in the way they live and interact with one another, then it causes more confusion. This is not a new thing. As a matter of fact, if we go to Judges 21:25, we see that Moral Relativity is not a new at all. It’s as old as any society in human history and brings a society to ruin. Let me explain:
In the long story of the Israelites, we see how moral relativity bankrupted them. These Jews, who saw the evidence of God in their lives coming out of Egypt, going through the desert, across the Red Sea and all the way up to the Promised Land, were the same untrusting lot who rambled into the promised land and didn’t fulfill what God asked of them. Instead of driving the people out, they ended up living with them, marrying them, merging religion with them. It sounds like a peaceful solution to the problem. But the multiple truths of the people caused conflict and turmoil and the people of Israel eventually understood the error of their ways, cried out to God and God sent Judges to fix the issue. But by the end of the book we see the problem is still there, a cyclical and seemingly unresolvable issue. In those days there was no king; the people did as they pleased.
When we can’t uphold the truth, and use scripture as a measuring stick against falsehood, we fall into compromise. We fall into a hole of PC living, of suppressing the truth, of becoming a shell of the truth without ever fighting for it. This is part of the life we choose as a Christian: to fight for the truth when it is time to fight. If we can’t “contend” for the truth, the question is, are we truly, passionately following?
4 For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
How have these people slipped into the church? There’s a few ways we can speculate. It’s hard to understand this happening in a modern church. Jude says they use the grace of God to sin and deny Jesus as Lord.
The infiltrator: Both of these things would be very obvious if, let’s say, a new pastor came into a church and openly did either of these things. But, like sin, the devil’s infiltration into a church is subtle. They can introduce heresy over time, gather up supporters, reinforce the message. Before long, if you are a young believer or simply a blind follower, you too can be swept up in false teaching. This happens in churches that have a “herd mentality”. When church congregants are taught to follow, not to question and grow, dependent on the leader, false teaching can get in unnoticed.
The body: I think this passage also talks about the state of the church. If there were people standing up for the body of Christ ardently (contending), then would it have been more apparent? Would it have even happened?
Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe.
In the next passages, Jude begins to describe the type of people who infiltrate the church. First, he discusses how the infiltrator has forgotten about God’s provision, or even never believed in the provision. In other words, he isn’t practicing one of the very basic truths about the Christian life: it isn’t about happiness, ambition, wealth or power; it’s about endurance. It’s about digging deep in the dark times and glorifying God. It’s about those high times and thanking God for what He’s done. It’s about submitting to God fully, seeing His constant work in our lives, not just the satisfaction of our flesh.
6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.
Jude talks about Angels who have fallen from their positions. When we look at this in respect to infiltrators, Jude is making this point: these people were once good people, following God fully. But like the angels, something happened and that changed. God leveled a judgement on them (bound them in chains) for their choice.
7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
Jude’s assessment of Sodom and Gomorrah makes a similar argument. These towns were once prosperous and successful. A great blessing was once on them, but they both devolved into sexual immorality. So the same point: They were once following God, but something happened and they took another path.
8 In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings.
Jude talks a little about the character of these people who have slipped in. In their own dreams (ambition) they pollute their own bodies (through sexual immorality or other means of creating an unhealthy lifestyle), they do not follow God’s authority (their own agenda) and heap abuse on celestial beings (don’t bring it back to God).
9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!"
In this passage Jude quotes a non-biblical source from the Assumption of Moses. The point here isn’t the actual story, but the response of Michael. First Michael, the protector, is the faithful being, and satan, of course, is the unfaithful. This is shown to illustrate first that the battle is a spiritual one. And the answer is always to rebuke. Not to entertain, but to flat out divorce form the source.
10 Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.
Jude makes the further distinction about this very base human condition. These are people who live in the temporary state, an animalistic state, as Jude determines it. They cannot respect authority and speak in ignorance. Now, this doesn’t mean, when we disagree with our government on certain aspects we aren’t in alignment with God. What it means is that when we have a decisive condition about all authority, we are following a base approach to life. A life in the temporal. Our only experience is natural.
11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.
Cain’s sacrifice was offered without faith. When dealing in the world, the people of the world disregard God’s providence and reject God as the provider. In the case of Cain, his sacrifice was rejected by God because Cain did not offer it in belief. 2nd Timothy 3:1-5 echoes this:
3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
The way of Balaam is referred to in the Book of Numbers. The thing to remember about the story of Balaam was that he was a mystic and he was hired by the King of Moab to confound and curse the Israelites. Balaam ultimately does the work of God and blesses the Israelites instead, but that isn’t where the story ends. Later, Balaam is credited with leading the Israelites into sin. He was willing to compromise himself for money.
He then references Korah’s rebellion. Korah wanted to seize power from Moses while in the desert. He took a coalition of priests with him and defied Moses’ authority. In other words, he led others into a systematic uprising against Moses, God’s desired leader. He led others astray, and did so through ambition. So when we look at all three examples, Jude discusses the way of Cain (unbelief), Balaam ( leads others astray) and Korah (opposition to authority).
12 These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.
Jude now discusses how the ungodly operate. First, they are selfish (shepherd’s who only feed themselves). This implies they are like teachers, but only teach for their own benefit. They are not passing along vital information for others’ benefit, but teaching to feed their own egos.
Blown along by a wind: there is no steady foundation in these people. If there is no foundation, then any teaching will sound correct and beneficial.
Autumn trees without fruit: This is the proof of their condition. They do not bear the fruit as they should. In a sense they are dead at the root.
Blackest darkness has been reserved for them: This is the eternal destination for them.
14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
Verse 14 and 15 speak of the judgment of the ungodly. God is coming to convict them, but in their animalistic nature they can’t see the coming storm.
16 These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.
Again, Jude discusses their character. They are grumblers: They don’t follow God’s authority
Follow their own evil desires: Selfish
Boast about themselves: Prideful
Flatter others for their own advantage: Liars
17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18 They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
We continue to look at the character of these people. They divide, they follow their own natural instincts (instead of relying on God), and they do not possess the spirit. They do not have the anointing of the spirit.
20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Verse 20 and 21 are about looking inward. Plainly put, we need to keep in harmony with God. This is the fellowship part. If we have the relationship, then we can keep in harmony with God.
Build yourself up in faith: Our faith is our trust in God. If we are building our faith, then we are building our trust in all things.
Pray in the Holy Spirit: Don’t just pray for your own needs, but pray for the needs of others. In this, we have to hope for Jesus’ return.
Keep growing spiritually: All of these things help bring us to a point of building our faith and building ourselves into that person God wants us to be. None of this just happens. It takes work, hard work, introspection, looking deeper at ourselves, refining and looking for God working in us. Others can help us in this pursuit, but it only comes from God working in us and us having the fortitude to continue and grow. But none of it happens unless we begin the building on a foundation of truth.
22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
Looking outward: When in the world, we have to deal with others with compassion and mercy. When approaching others, it is best to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Let the spirit lead you in conversation. Not all situations require the same approach. So we must approach each situation as a new entity and work through the spirit.
24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Our answers lie only in the power of God. When we submit to his authority, we recognize his power and rule and he can guide us into the proper way to deal with the world and others.
1 Jude, a servant of Jesus Christ and a brother of James,
To those who have been called, who are loved in God the Father and kept for Jesus Christ:
2 Mercy, peace and love be yours in abundance.
We open with Jude’s introduction, which sounds fairly standard, but gives us a wealth of information as to who Jude is, what his motivations are, and even more so who he aims this letter at. First, he identifies himself as Jude, a servant of Christ. So above any other identifying factor, Jude is a servant (bondservant) of Jesus Christ. Only after that do we understand that he is the brother of James, the patriarch of the Christian church, who happens to be the half-brother of Christ. His humility is on display here, because he uses this to identify himself as the brother of Christ (Matt 13:55) without calling out this directly.
Secondly, we see who the letter is addressed to:
1. To those who have been called: This means the letter is addressed to Christians (John 15:16, Romans 8:28). This is an interesting statement, because we don’t often think of ourselves as called by God. Instead we can point to a moment in our life when we are “saved,” when we came to Christ. But the Bible tells us that God initially calls us to service.
2. Who are loved by God the Father: This tells us further about the distinction of the Christian. Christians are set apart by God in three ways: By the Word of God, by the work of the Holy Spirit, and also by the fellowship of believers. If we break that down we can see that a Christian is set apart by what he believes, by allowing the work of the Holy Spirit in his life, and by the company he keeps.
3. Kept for Christ: This speaks to the protection of Christ. It doesn’t simply mean physical protection, but mainly deep spiritual protection that comes from indulging in the word of God and living it out in our lives. (1 Corinthians 10:13, 2 Thessalonians 3:3)
3 Dear friends, although I was very eager to write to you about the salvation we share, I felt compelled to write and urge you to contend for the faith that was once for all entrusted to God’s holy people. 4 For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
In verse 3, we see that Jude was originally going to write Christians about salvation but saw a greater concern arise: something was going on in the church body, in his time, that concerned him. He saw that false teaching arose somewhere in the church and felt compelled to write about that instead, and more to the point, to discuss a vibrant “contention” of the faith.
The word contention has an interesting connotation. My understanding is that the Hebrew word is a wrestling term, meaning “to agonize.” If we envision a wrestling match, the aim of the wrestlers is to pin their opponent. But it isn’t easy. There is a constant fight against one another, fight that takes all of their strength.
When we talk about agonizing (contending) in the faith, Jude is telling us that the faith (the gospel) we stake our lives on has meaning. It is entrusted to us. The big question is, if we don’t struggle over it, agonize and fight for it, who will? This contention is both common and individual. The common part is about our shared faith, but the individual component is about our diligent work we must constantly do to preserve what has been given to us. This is remnant work, for sure. Remember, the only reason we have scripture today is because of the dutiful remnant who preserved it over time.
The reason we fight for it is important as well. This speaks to the Christian life, the example we set for others. Our Christian foundation of truth is the most important part of the equation. If we aren’t willing to fight for the truth, then are we really following? We may view that as extreme, thinking about martyrdom. But it isn’t always the extreme. Sometimes it’s just speaking the truth in small situations. Bringing light to someone who has none. Speaking up when no one else will.
But our fight for the truth of the Gospel has a huge impact on the world going forward. Everyone eventually arrives at a time in their life that they begin to understand the erosion of the world around them. Not just the tenuous nature of society, but the spiritual decay that happens daily. In this decay comes a natural ambivalence. It is a feeling that we can all take care of our own lives, and as long as we are happy with our own truths, that will somehow bring peace. A hundred million truths in this world has an opposite effect on truth, though. We end up compromising ourselves into a hole of untruth, and the truth is even cloudier than ever imagined.
This is the problem with moral relativity. Moral relativity is the problem of having multiple truths. If everyone has their own truth that is played out in the way they live and interact with one another, then it causes more confusion. This is not a new thing. As a matter of fact, if we go to Judges 21:25, we see that Moral Relativity is not a new at all. It’s as old as any society in human history and brings a society to ruin. Let me explain:
In the long story of the Israelites, we see how moral relativity bankrupted them. These Jews, who saw the evidence of God in their lives coming out of Egypt, going through the desert, across the Red Sea and all the way up to the Promised Land, were the same untrusting lot who rambled into the promised land and didn’t fulfill what God asked of them. Instead of driving the people out, they ended up living with them, marrying them, merging religion with them. It sounds like a peaceful solution to the problem. But the multiple truths of the people caused conflict and turmoil and the people of Israel eventually understood the error of their ways, cried out to God and God sent Judges to fix the issue. But by the end of the book we see the problem is still there, a cyclical and seemingly unresolvable issue. In those days there was no king; the people did as they pleased.
When we can’t uphold the truth, and use scripture as a measuring stick against falsehood, we fall into compromise. We fall into a hole of PC living, of suppressing the truth, of becoming a shell of the truth without ever fighting for it. This is part of the life we choose as a Christian: to fight for the truth when it is time to fight. If we can’t “contend” for the truth, the question is, are we truly, passionately following?
4 For certain individuals whose condemnation was written about long ago have secretly slipped in among you. They are ungodly people, who pervert the grace of our God into a license for immorality and deny Jesus Christ our only Sovereign and Lord.
How have these people slipped into the church? There’s a few ways we can speculate. It’s hard to understand this happening in a modern church. Jude says they use the grace of God to sin and deny Jesus as Lord.
The infiltrator: Both of these things would be very obvious if, let’s say, a new pastor came into a church and openly did either of these things. But, like sin, the devil’s infiltration into a church is subtle. They can introduce heresy over time, gather up supporters, reinforce the message. Before long, if you are a young believer or simply a blind follower, you too can be swept up in false teaching. This happens in churches that have a “herd mentality”. When church congregants are taught to follow, not to question and grow, dependent on the leader, false teaching can get in unnoticed.
The body: I think this passage also talks about the state of the church. If there were people standing up for the body of Christ ardently (contending), then would it have been more apparent? Would it have even happened?
Though you already know all this, I want to remind you that the Lord at one time delivered his people out of Egypt, but later destroyed those who did not believe.
In the next passages, Jude begins to describe the type of people who infiltrate the church. First, he discusses how the infiltrator has forgotten about God’s provision, or even never believed in the provision. In other words, he isn’t practicing one of the very basic truths about the Christian life: it isn’t about happiness, ambition, wealth or power; it’s about endurance. It’s about digging deep in the dark times and glorifying God. It’s about those high times and thanking God for what He’s done. It’s about submitting to God fully, seeing His constant work in our lives, not just the satisfaction of our flesh.
6 And the angels who did not keep their positions of authority but abandoned their proper dwelling—these he has kept in darkness, bound with everlasting chains for judgment on the great Day.
Jude talks about Angels who have fallen from their positions. When we look at this in respect to infiltrators, Jude is making this point: these people were once good people, following God fully. But like the angels, something happened and that changed. God leveled a judgement on them (bound them in chains) for their choice.
7 In a similar way, Sodom and Gomorrah and the surrounding towns gave themselves up to sexual immorality and perversion. They serve as an example of those who suffer the punishment of eternal fire.
Jude’s assessment of Sodom and Gomorrah makes a similar argument. These towns were once prosperous and successful. A great blessing was once on them, but they both devolved into sexual immorality. So the same point: They were once following God, but something happened and they took another path.
8 In the very same way, on the strength of their dreams these ungodly people pollute their own bodies, reject authority and heap abuse on celestial beings.
Jude talks a little about the character of these people who have slipped in. In their own dreams (ambition) they pollute their own bodies (through sexual immorality or other means of creating an unhealthy lifestyle), they do not follow God’s authority (their own agenda) and heap abuse on celestial beings (don’t bring it back to God).
9 But even the archangel Michael, when he was disputing with the devil about the body of Moses, did not himself dare to condemn him for slander but said, “The Lord rebuke you!"
In this passage Jude quotes a non-biblical source from the Assumption of Moses. The point here isn’t the actual story, but the response of Michael. First Michael, the protector, is the faithful being, and satan, of course, is the unfaithful. This is shown to illustrate first that the battle is a spiritual one. And the answer is always to rebuke. Not to entertain, but to flat out divorce form the source.
10 Yet these people slander whatever they do not understand, and the very things they do understand by instinct—as irrational animals do—will destroy them.
Jude makes the further distinction about this very base human condition. These are people who live in the temporary state, an animalistic state, as Jude determines it. They cannot respect authority and speak in ignorance. Now, this doesn’t mean, when we disagree with our government on certain aspects we aren’t in alignment with God. What it means is that when we have a decisive condition about all authority, we are following a base approach to life. A life in the temporal. Our only experience is natural.
11 Woe to them! They have taken the way of Cain; they have rushed for profit into Balaam’s error; they have been destroyed in Korah’s rebellion.
Cain’s sacrifice was offered without faith. When dealing in the world, the people of the world disregard God’s providence and reject God as the provider. In the case of Cain, his sacrifice was rejected by God because Cain did not offer it in belief. 2nd Timothy 3:1-5 echoes this:
3 But mark this: There will be terrible times in the last days. 2 People will be lovers of themselves, lovers of money, boastful, proud, abusive, disobedient to their parents, ungrateful, unholy, 3 without love, unforgiving, slanderous, without self-control, brutal, not lovers of the good, 4 treacherous, rash, conceited, lovers of pleasure rather than lovers of God— 5 having a form of godliness but denying its power. Have nothing to do with such people.
The way of Balaam is referred to in the Book of Numbers. The thing to remember about the story of Balaam was that he was a mystic and he was hired by the King of Moab to confound and curse the Israelites. Balaam ultimately does the work of God and blesses the Israelites instead, but that isn’t where the story ends. Later, Balaam is credited with leading the Israelites into sin. He was willing to compromise himself for money.
He then references Korah’s rebellion. Korah wanted to seize power from Moses while in the desert. He took a coalition of priests with him and defied Moses’ authority. In other words, he led others into a systematic uprising against Moses, God’s desired leader. He led others astray, and did so through ambition. So when we look at all three examples, Jude discusses the way of Cain (unbelief), Balaam ( leads others astray) and Korah (opposition to authority).
12 These people are blemishes at your love feasts, eating with you without the slightest qualm—shepherds who feed only themselves. They are clouds without rain, blown along by the wind; autumn trees, without fruit and uprooted—twice dead. 13 They are wild waves of the sea, foaming up their shame; wandering stars, for whom blackest darkness has been reserved forever.
Jude now discusses how the ungodly operate. First, they are selfish (shepherd’s who only feed themselves). This implies they are like teachers, but only teach for their own benefit. They are not passing along vital information for others’ benefit, but teaching to feed their own egos.
Blown along by a wind: there is no steady foundation in these people. If there is no foundation, then any teaching will sound correct and beneficial.
Autumn trees without fruit: This is the proof of their condition. They do not bear the fruit as they should. In a sense they are dead at the root.
Blackest darkness has been reserved for them: This is the eternal destination for them.
14 Enoch, the seventh from Adam, prophesied about them: “See, the Lord is coming with thousands upon thousands of his holy ones 15 to judge everyone, and to convict all of them of all the ungodly acts they have committed in their ungodliness, and of all the defiant words ungodly sinners have spoken against him.”
Verse 14 and 15 speak of the judgment of the ungodly. God is coming to convict them, but in their animalistic nature they can’t see the coming storm.
16 These people are grumblers and faultfinders; they follow their own evil desires; they boast about themselves and flatter others for their own advantage.
Again, Jude discusses their character. They are grumblers: They don’t follow God’s authority
Follow their own evil desires: Selfish
Boast about themselves: Prideful
Flatter others for their own advantage: Liars
17 But, dear friends, remember what the apostles of our Lord Jesus Christ foretold. 18 They said to you, “In the last times there will be scoffers who will follow their own ungodly desires.” 19 These are the people who divide you, who follow mere natural instincts and do not have the Spirit.
We continue to look at the character of these people. They divide, they follow their own natural instincts (instead of relying on God), and they do not possess the spirit. They do not have the anointing of the spirit.
20 But you, dear friends, by building yourselves up in your most holy faith and praying in the Holy Spirit, 21 keep yourselves in God’s love as you wait for the mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ to bring you to eternal life.
Verse 20 and 21 are about looking inward. Plainly put, we need to keep in harmony with God. This is the fellowship part. If we have the relationship, then we can keep in harmony with God.
Build yourself up in faith: Our faith is our trust in God. If we are building our faith, then we are building our trust in all things.
Pray in the Holy Spirit: Don’t just pray for your own needs, but pray for the needs of others. In this, we have to hope for Jesus’ return.
Keep growing spiritually: All of these things help bring us to a point of building our faith and building ourselves into that person God wants us to be. None of this just happens. It takes work, hard work, introspection, looking deeper at ourselves, refining and looking for God working in us. Others can help us in this pursuit, but it only comes from God working in us and us having the fortitude to continue and grow. But none of it happens unless we begin the building on a foundation of truth.
22 Be merciful to those who doubt; 23 save others by snatching them from the fire; to others show mercy, mixed with fear—hating even the clothing stained by corrupted flesh.
Looking outward: When in the world, we have to deal with others with compassion and mercy. When approaching others, it is best to be sensitive to the Holy Spirit. Let the spirit lead you in conversation. Not all situations require the same approach. So we must approach each situation as a new entity and work through the spirit.
24 To him who is able to keep you from stumbling and to present you before his glorious presence without fault and with great joy— 25 to the only God our Savior be glory, majesty, power and authority, through Jesus Christ our Lord, before all ages, now and forevermore! Amen.
Our answers lie only in the power of God. When we submit to his authority, we recognize his power and rule and he can guide us into the proper way to deal with the world and others.